Vladimir Putin visited the Valaam Monastery.
Photo: REUTERS
The whole week before the arrival of African leaders in St. Petersburg and the naval parade on the Neva, Vladimir Putin, it seems, will spend in the north of the country. Yesterday, together with the head of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, our president visited Kronstadt. Today the politicians went to Valaam.
There, the heads of state visited the Stauropegian monastery of Spaso-Preobrazhensky Valaam. On the trip around Lake Ladoga, the presidents dressed simply, without white shirts or suits, in jackets and sneakers.
In the lower church of the monastery, the presidents venerated the relics of Saint Sergius and Herman, the founders of the monastery. Having kissed the shrine with the remains of the monks, Vladimir Vladimirovich crossed himself, and Lukashenka put his hand to his chest and raised his eyes to the ceiling.
– Happy to see you! Health! Thank you! the believers greeted the head of state.
“Mutually,” Putin replied.
The last time the head of the country was in Valaam was four years ago. He later he was also with Lukashenka. Politicians inspected the monastery, visited the skete on behalf of All Saints, in the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God and the chapel of the Royal Martyrs.
